Andy Reid is the biggest thing to hit Kansas City since ... nope, can't think of anything — the guy who I believe wears size XLVIII has got to be the biggest thing in town, an undefeated coach and the key to the Kansas City Chiefs making it to the Super Bowl.

Thus, entering Sunday's marquee matchup, the pressure is on Reid, 13-1 in games after bye weeks, to cook up a game plan to beat the Broncos in Denver.

Is the pressure on Jack Del Rio, though?

If the Broncos lose, Del Rio doesn't get a pass because he's got the word "interim" wedged beside his job title. Right now, he's the head coach. And so, this game is just as much about Denver's Del Rio as it is about Kansas City's Reid — we just don't know as much about our guy in big games. We do know he found a way to win in San Diego last Sunday, which was important to set a tone.

We know the defense, his baby, is finally looking formidable, instead of hanging on for dear life game after game. But while the pressure is on the stability of Peyton Manning's right ankle and Denver's run defense, it's also on Del Rio's decision-making. Will he be red-state conservative on fourth down? How will he and offensive coordinator Adam Gase choose to protect Manning? Will they take away one of Peyton's toys (say, Wes Welker) and add an extra blocking tight end?

Asked about the pressure of this game, of making John Fox proud, Del Rio said: "I've never looked at it like that. You go to a free-throw line to make a game-winning shot, those thoughts aren't in your head. It's doing your job right, taking the three dribbles, exhaling, nice smooth release, make the shot. You do what you do. I was very good at closing out games with my foul shooting," he said with a wry smile, which made me wonder if the one-time prep hoops star was joking or serious.

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The best thing going for Denver is that the players say there has been a seamless transition from Fox, who is out following heart surgery, to his old buddy Del Rio. There wasn't an in-house shake-up. Del Rio wants to out-fox Reid, not oust Fox. This one's for John — if 8-1 Denver can win this game, it could very well be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs by the time Fox returns.

Sitting on a bench after Friday's practice, Del Rio was clearly fired up for this opportunity.

Only three times since the 1970 merger has there been a game with two teams with eight wins and no more than one loss, according to ESPN's stats research team.

"It's great whether you're a player, assistant strength coach, head coach or fan," said Del Rio. "It's exciting to be involved in games that take on extra meaning. It is one game, and that's how we're going to approach it, but clearly there will be more excitement in the stands, and the juices will be flowing a little more in a game like this."

Some people might not know this, but Del Rio actually played for the Chiefs, in 1987 and 1988.

Asked what he remembered about those years, he said, "We weren't very good, that's what I remember. Probably was the low point of my playing career."

But, if his Broncos beat the Chiefs, and beat the Chiefs again in two weeks, it could lead to the high point of his coaching career — Super Bowl XLVIII.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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